The Boulder County commissioners on Thursday authorized sending a letter elaborating on their concerns about the adequacy of the U.S. Forest Service's evaluation of the potential environmental impacts of Eldora Mountain Resort's proposed expansion.

Commissioners Elise Jones and Deb Gardner did not add to or revise the comments the county staff had included in the letter — comments based in part on testimony the county board got during its April 17 public hearing on the draft Environmental Impact Statement.

Commissioner Cindy Domenico didn't attend Thursday's meeting.

Jones said the latest Boulder County letter is "a useful supplement" to an earlier critique Boulder County had sent the Forest Service and "does a great job"of suggesting ways the federal agency could revisit its draft EIS to make sure it's "as comprehensive and accurate as possible."

The latest letter says Boulder County "acknowledges the amenities the resort provides, including recreational and economic opportunities, and recognizes that there are a significant number of county residents who are downhill skiers or snowboarders who value the location of a ski resort in Boulder County."

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But the commissioners also say in the letter that the county, along with many of the speakers at least month's hearing, are concerned about "the lack of an infill alternative, the impact that expansion would have on residents of the town of Eldora, the impact the expansion would have on Middle Boulder Creek and Jenny Creek, the safety of Jenny Creek where it crosses ski runs, the impact on wildlife migration, the inadequacy of the archeological survey methodology, mitigation of noise impacts during construction and future operations, as well as other issues."

The Forest Service is expected to issue a final version of the environmental impact statement about the proposed resort expansion alternatives later this year.

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